I am so fortunate for the opportunity to work with students at Beach, Edgewood, and Shettler Elementary buildings. It is rewarding to work alongside staff, students, and their families to promote academic and social success at school. The best part of my job is being able to see students make even the smallest steps towards their goals.

I mend knees and hearts.............but I'm not a doctor.
I clarify and solve problems.........but I'm not a counselor.
I protect and serve......................but I'm not a police officer.
I encourage and support others....but I'm not a cheerleader.
I formulate and construct.............but I'm not a contractor.
I teach kindergarten.....................I am Jada Bench.

One of the most important components in my philosophy of education is that children should be taught to mastery level. In addition, all students can learn perhaps at different times and most certainly in different ways!

My life has been so blessed to be part of Fruitport Community Schools for over 10 years. I was lucky enough to have attended Beach School from kindergarten through 5th grade, until my parents moved to Whitehall. I remember crying when we left and told my parents that I would be back no matter what. I never thought it would be to teach in the district that I loved!

I love being able to share my passion for music with kids and I believe that all students can be positively impacted through music. My favorite thing about teaching music is being able to watch children grow throughout their time in elementary school. I am looking forward to a great year of music making here at Edgewood!

The things I love most about teaching in Fruitport are the amazing kids, the support we receive from our families and the sense of community that you can feel the minute you walk through the doors of any one of our schools.

I have always enjoyed learning and working with children, so becoming an elementary teacher was a perfect fit for me. I graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. As a former Edgewood student and Fruitport graduate, I was thrilled to be hired as a third grade teacher at Edgewood in 2002.

What I love about teaching is that it is a new, fun and rewarding adventure everyday. I love seeing the moment when a student understands a concept being taught. I believe in a positive atmosphere of love and respect. I believe in challenging students to set realistic and obtainable goals for themselves. Once a student in my classroom for a year, they are my kids for a lifetime.

When I started college, I never imagined that I would study education. During my undergraduate classes, I studied psychology and I really enjoyed it. I also started to become interested in education, but I thought I would have to pick one or the other for a career. While looking into post-college options, I found graduate school programs for school psychology and knew I had found the perfect combination of my two interests.

When I was a little girl, I dreamed of one day becoming a teacher. I had a small orange suitcase filled with half-used workbooks left over from the school year that I would drag around with me all summer long. My stuffed animals and dolls were excellent listeners to endless lessons and stories.

I was born and raised in the little town of Niles, Michigan. Growing up, I was very active in music, dance and theatre. After graduation I attended Western Michigan and later Muskegon Community College to study children’s literature. I currently work in the library at Edgewood Elementary. My husband, Rob, was the middle school band director for over twenty years and has recently retired.

My goal is to determine strengths and weaknesses of individual students in math. From there, I work one- on- one to help students become better mathematicians. I have really enjoyed my time at Edgewood so far-I love teaching and working with children everyday!

Education comes in many forms, and it started with me in scouting. I've been through all the ranks and eventually became Scoutmaster: passing on my passion for learning. Then I became a certified ski instructor for over 15 years, and later as Voyageur Outward Bound instructor to combine skills. Its seems like using adventure- based activities was the vehicle for learning over many years!

The energy, excitement, and open honesty that kids have certainly makes teaching an adventure! The learning and growth that kids experience throughout a school year also make teaching an adventure. Teaching is an amazing adventure that I have been on for over fifteen years.

I find education so rewarding because every day is different. I get to be part of helping students learn, cope with situations and see them succeed. There is never a dull moment working with elementary students, and I love it!

"Teachers who love teaching, teach children who love learning!" I am so excited to share my love of teaching with my second-grade students this year! My hope each year is to create a safe and welcoming environment for all students who walk through my door. I want to create a passion for learning and encourage them to never stop asking questions. I want them to become lifelong learners.

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” This quote by Henry B. Adams sums up my thoughts on the value of teaching and the impact that “we”, as teachers, can have on the lives of others. Since I began my position as the impact leader at Edgewood Elementary over 10 years ago, and now as a math interventionist, I have had the privilege of working with thousands of Fruitport students and families. I have realized what a wonderful community we live in, and am in awe of the impact that our kids have had on me!

I came to Fruitport Community Schools as a middle school math and science teacher, and enjoyed this experience. However, I love my position as a first grade teacher. It is exciting for me to see and help children discover the love of learning.

If you come into my classroom, you might see me singing and/or dancing to some music. I think that it is important for students to learn through movement and music, so I try to incorporate it into my lessons each day. I might be the world’s worst dancer and my voice is always out of tune, but I don’t mind!

I’ve grown up in the Fruitport Community and I have worked for Fruitport Schools for over 25 years. My husband Jim and I both graduated from Fruitport. My two children also graduated from Fruitport. I have four grandchildren, two of which attended Edgewood Elementary. After graduation, I received my Associate’s degree in Business, and I currently work in the office at Edgewood Elementary.

I am a graduate of Fruitport Community Schools and former Edgewood student. I was inspired from former elementary teachers to become an educator myself. The most rewarding part of my day is when I can see the light of recognition when a student achieves goals in the area of reading.

I am Megan Schneidt and this is my first official year of teaching! I am thrilled to get to know each and everyone of my third graders and their families. My hope is to have my students leave each day with the excitement of walking through our classroom door the next morning!

When I started teaching, I came to realize that this profession is not about selecting a career, it’s a way of being. Every child that crosses my doorway is a part of who I am today. I believe in bringing things to life and making them as much a part of real-world experiences as possible. I also love the technology component Fruitport is embracing. Using technology is catching children where they are in the real world and where they’re going in their future.

Teaching first grade has been my passion! I have taught at Edgewood for over twenty years with the primary focus on first grade. My teaching philosophy is to encourage each student to have a lifelong love for learning. My goal is to provide a nurturing and safe environment for students to be comfortable to take risks and have fun learning.

I love the challenge and spontaneity of teaching because it keeps me focused, constantly learning, and always thinking on my feet. One can never fully predict the occurrences of a day in the classroom. I love the sense of joy and pride expressed when my students progress and realize their goals. I believe success is possible for all students. I hope to teach my students that one’s desired result can be achieved through hard work and perseverance.

What I love most about teaching is getting to know each and every student I come in contact with. I truly believe that in order for students to learn they need to feel that they are respected, safe, and feel that they are part of strong community within the classroom.